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For the Toronto Raptors, the world is a lot simpler. With a payroll of less than US$52-million, they have about US$6-million that they could conceivably add under the cap before Thursday’s trade deadline. The Raptors are not likely to explore that route, though. The Raptors have more than an eye directed at next year.

“Bryan [Colangelo] is a very innovative guy, and Ed Stefanski,” Raptors coach Dwane Casey said of the Raptors’ president and general manager, and executive vice-president, respectively. “They’re always looking to improve our team. I know we’re not going to do anything to [alter] our cap flexibility next year or to destroy our core, because I like our core. Next year is a different story. We’re going to evaluate the guys that we’ve got now and see where they are.”

That cap flexibility looms the largest. When you factor in two draft picks — the incoming Jonas Valanciunas and whomever the Raptors select this year — Toronto could have approximately US$10- to US$15-million to spend this off-season. Any number of factors, including the fate of Jerryd Bayless and a decision to use the amnesty clause, could change that number.

Colangelo, who said he is being “extra diligent” in sticking with this team’s plan to “change the culture, develop the core [and] preserve maximum cap flexibility,” is an aggressive general manager. Before the season, he said that the patient approach these Raptors require sometimes gets to him. At heart, he is a dealmaker.

However, unless something unforeseen comes along, it is tough to envision Colangelo declaring this the time to change the face of the Raptors.

“If we were in a position to obtain a key piece for the future, it would certainly cause deliberation,” Colangelo said via email. “But remaining cap neutral or creating more space in our dealings is one of our key objectives.”

“There is nothing going on with trades today,” Casey added. “There are a lot of calls back and forth right now, but there is no real thing going on with trades. I didn’t even bring it up to our players because there’s nothing going on. There’s nothing to really talk about.”

By far, Leandro Barbosa is the most logical Raptor to move. He is making US$7.6-million this season, which means most contending teams would have to ship back a nearly equal value in salary. But if the Raptors can gain any asset for the free-agent-to-be, it would make sense for them.

Point guard Jose Calderon’s contract runs through next season, when he will be owed US$10.6-million. Calderon, averaging 10.7 points and 8.7 assists per game, could be an appealing player for a contender with a need at that position. But his contract is a hard one to move, and the Raptors might have use for him to run the team for another year next season.

When Valanciunas arrives in the NBA next year, the Raptors will have a glut of big men. That will likely end the Raptors career of either Amir Johnson or Ed Davis. However, both players will probably be easier to move when they are paired with a draft pick. Also, it will be informative to see how they mesh with the returning Andrea Bargnani, who has missed 26 games this year with a calf injury.

“That’s a big part of it,” Casey said. “Not to necessarily learn how to win games, which is important, but how we fit together as a unit, what needs we have, what guys can do with him in the lineup, what are our weakness with him. All of those things matter.”